Key or permutation operated lock

ABSTRACT

Combined key or permutation operated lock for locker doors and the like wherein a set of tumblers is mounted on a fixed center post for axial movement therealong between a normal position wherein a fence on a pivoted latch bolt confronts peripheral edges of the tumblers and noninterfering position wherein the set of tumblers is clear of the fence to permit release of the latch bolt. Cam means operated by a key cylinder engage the set of tumblers and selectively move the same to the noninterfering position upon rotating of the key cylinder in a release direction by a key.

United States Patent [72] lnventor George P. Junkunc Palos Heights, Ill.[21 Appl. No. 859,072 22 Filed Sept. 18, 1969 p [45] Patented Mar. 23,1971 [73] Assignee Junkunc Bros. American Lock Company Crete, Ill.

[54] 7 KEY OR PERMUTATION OPERATED LOCK 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. [52]US. CL... 70/285, 1 70/314, 70/332 [51] Int. Cl. E05!) 37/08, EOSb 65/02[50] Field of Search 70/285', 21, 156 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 590,131 9/1897 Chipman 70/285 Primary Examiner-Marvin A.Champion Assistant ExaminerAlb ert G, Craig, Jr. Attorney-Hill, Sherman,Meroni, Gross and Simpson ABSTRACT: Combined key or permutation operatedlock for locker doors and the like wherein a set of tumblers is mountedon a fixed center post for axial movement therealong between a, normalposition wherein a fence on a pivoted latch bolt ca fronts peripheraledges of the tumblers and noninterfering position wherein'the set oftumblers is clear of the fence to permit release of the latch bolt, Cammeans operated by a lceiy cylinder engage the set of tumblers andselectively move tge same to the noninterfering position upon rotatingof the k y cylinder in a release direction by a key.

Pmimanmzsmn 3,572,069

sum 1 "OF 3 INVENTOR.

feozgePJm/Zzazza By W 2, g i ATTORNEYS 1 KEY OR PERMUTATION OPERATEDLOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Inlocks for lockers,- and particularlylockers for school gymnasium locker rooms and industrial plants, it isdesirable that an individual user operate the lock by dialing acombination, but that authorized persons be able to, unlock the lockerby a master key. l-Ieretofore, most combined key or permutation.operated locks incorporated a complex latch dog mechanism selectivelymovable from a dogging position by either aligning slots in the tumblersor operating a key mechanism. Such latch dog mechanisms oftentimes havebeen extremely complex requiring numerous individual parts. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principles of thepresent invention, a combined key or permutation operated lock forlocker doors or the like comprises a pivotally mounted latch bolt havingan integrally formed fence thereon, a set of tumblers mounted on a fixedtumbler post for axial movement therealong, biasing means urging thetumblers toward a normal position wherein the latch bolt fence engagesperipheral edges of the tumblers or moves into radial slots in thetumblers, when aligned, and key operated cam means for moving thetumblers axially along the post to a noninterfering position wherein thefence may freely move into a space vacated by the tumblers forpermitting pivotal movement of the-latch bolt to an unlocked position. I

A pivotally mounted, spring biased upsetter arm moves with the pivotedlatch bolt and engages radially extending notches formed in the tumblersfor upsetting the combination and moving the dial off the last number ofthe combination whenever the latch bolt is released to effect openingthe locker door.

Another feature of the present invention .contemplates providing anarrow-shaped aperture in an escutcheon plate and forming an underlyingdial plate with a brightly colored surface, thereby to form a referencemarker for the dial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front end .view of acombined key or permutation operated lock constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the lock taken substantially along lineII-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan ,view of the lock of the present invention with a coverplate therefor removed and showing the latch bolt in a latched position;i

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar-to FIG. 3 and showing the pivoted latchbolt in its unlatched position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view with certain partsshown in elevation forclarity and illustrating the tumblersinanoninterfering position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 4 butrotated 90 therefrom and illustrating the tumblers in the noninterferingposition;

FIG. ,7 isan end view of a pivoted latch bolt for the lock of thepresentinvention; and

FIG. 3 .is a fragmentary, enlarged end view of a dial and escutcheonplate of the lock of the present invention.

DETAILEDrDESCRIPT ION OF A PREFERRED :EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings, a combined key or pennutation operated lock, constructed inaccordancewith the principles of the present invention, is generallyshown at 10 and has a casing 11 mounted on an inside surface of a lockerdoor panel 12 or the likeand a cover plate 13 abutting the outside ofthe door panel and secured to the casing by fastening means such as nutand bolt assemblies 14 passing through aligned apertures as at 16, 17and 18 respectively formed in the cover, the door panel and the casing,thereby to securely mount the lock 10 in assembled relationship with thedoor panel.

' The casing 11 is a generally cup-shaped member having a bottom wall21, sidewalls as at 22 and a lid portion 23 abutting the inside surfaceof the door panel 12 and having the attachment apertures 18 formedtherethrough.

' A tumbler post 24, centrally disposed within the casing 11, has areduced end portion 26 received within an aperture 27 formed in thecasing bottom wall 21. An outermost end portion as at 28 of the post 24is swaged over peripheral edges of the aperture 27, thereby to securelyafiix the tumbler post at right angles to the bottom wall 21L Thetumbler post 24 forms a pivotal mounting for a set of spaced tumblers29, 30 and 31, spaced apart by washers as at 32 and biased outwardlyalong the post by a biasing spring 33, encircling the post and havingopposite ends respectively seated on an inside surface 34 of the bottomwall 21 and a washer 36 abutting the bottom tumbler 31.

Means forming a pivoted latch bolt which may extend into an openingformed in a manually actuated slide bar or similar device of a lockerdoor, comprise a C-shaped body portion 37 characterized by an offsetbolt portion 38 extending therefrom and passing through an aperture 39in the casing sidewall 22. The C.-shaped latch bolt 37 partiallyencircles the tumblers 29,- 30 and 31 and is characterized by a firstarm portion 41 having an aperture 42 formed therethrough and receiving apivot pin 42, affixed to the casing bottom wall 21 and extending along aportion of the sidewall 22 parallel to the tumbler post 24.

A torsion spring 43 encircles the pivot pin 42 and has one arm portionas at 44 engaging the inside of the casing sidewall 22 and an oppositea'rm 46 engaging a notch 47 in the latch bolt arm 41, thereby to biasthe pivoted latch bolt into a latching position wherein the bolt 38lockingly retains the slide bar in locked position.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the latchbolt 37 has an integrally formed fence 48 extending from the bodyportion inwardly toward the tumbler post 24 and characterized byparallel sidewall surfaces 49 and 51 and an innermost end edge 52. Asbest illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the fence 48 has end edge portions 53and 54 spaced apart a distance slightly exceeding the total width of theset of tumblers 29, 30 and 31. When the latch bolt 37 is in a locking,

position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the innermost end edge 52 of thefence 48 closely confronts outer peripheral edges as at 57 of thetumblers 29, 30 and 31, thereby to prevent inwardly directed, pivotalmovement of the latch bolt 37 toward an unlocked position, asillustrated in FIG. 4, unless radially inwardly extending slots as at 58formed in each of the tumblers are properly aligned.

A knob, generally indicated at 61, has a dial plate 62 pivotally mountedwithin an aperture 63 formed in the cover 13 and a sleeve portion 66keyed within a throughbore 64 formed in the dial plate. An axiallyextending recess 67, formed in the sleeve portion 66 at an innermost endthereof, receives a pin 68 fixedly attached to the top tumbler 29,thereby to form a driving connection between the top tumbler and theknob 61. Selectively interengaging transfer pins as at 69, 70 and 71formed respectively on the top tumbler 29, the intermediate tumbler 30and the bottom tumbler 31 enable positioning of the radially extendingslots 58 by rotating the knob 61 in required directions to registercertain numbers of the combination marked on the dial plate 64 with areference marker.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, and as bestseen in FIG. 7, the reference marker comprises an arrow-shaped aperture74 formed in an escutcheon plate 75 fitted over the cover plate 13 andhaving an opening 750 sized to closely fit a tapered portion of the dialplate 62. An outwardly projecting peripheral edge portion as at 620 ofthe dial plate 62 is visible through the arrow-shaped aperture 74 andmay be brightly colored, thereby to provide a readily visible indicia orreference marker to facilitate dialing the combinaformed fence 48 on thelatch bolt 37, thereby to enable pivotal movement of the latch bolttoward the unlocked position. Thus, the lock of the present inventionincludes means forming a permutation operated release mechanismincorporating a plurality of rotatably mounted, slotted tumblers and adial for selectively rotating the tumblers. Further, the permutationoperated mechanism of the present invention includes a fence formedintegrally with a pivoted latch bolt, thereby not requiring a separate,complex latch dog mechanism.

It is also contemplated by the present invention to provide an upsettermechanism for upsetting more than one of the combination tumblerswhenever the lock is released by pivoting the latch bolt, thereby toprovide a safeguard against picking the lock or solving the combination.The upsetter mechanism includes a substantially C-shaped upsetter arm 76wrapped around the tumbler post 24 on a side thereof opposite thepivoted latch bolt 37 and having an outstanding flange 77 mounting anoffset attachment arm 78 at an outer end thereof. An aperture 79 formedthrough the attachment arm 78 receives the pivot pin 42, thereby topivotally mount the upsetter arm 76 within the casing 21.

An end of the C-shaped upsetter arm 76 opposite the attachment armportion 78 has a flange or upsetter pawl 81 extending therefrom at rightangles thereto and having an edge portion as at 82 radially outwardlyoverlying the peripheral edges 57 of the tumblers 29, 30 and 31. Thelatch bolt 37 has an end 83, opposite of the pivotally mounted endportion 41, operatively engaging a face surface 84 of the flange orupsetter pawl 81, thereby forming a driving connection between the latchbolt 37 and the upsetter arm 76 for pivotally moving the upsetter armwith the latch bolt as the latter pivotally moves from the lockedposition to the unlocked position. In that manner, the innermost endedge 82 of the upsetter pawl 81 pivots into engagement with notches asat 86 formed on the periphery of two or more of the tumblers 29,30 and31. A tension-type biasing spring 87, having one end portion hooked intoan aperture 88 in the upsetter pawl 81 and an opposite end portionsecured to a tab 89 which in turn is affixed to the casing sidewall 22,urges the upsetter arm 76 toward the pivoted latch bolt 37 for pivotallymoving the upsetter arm in a counterclockwise direction whenever thelatch bolt returns to the locked position, thereby to rotate thetumblers in a counterclockwise direction until the upsetter pawl 81 iswithdrawn from the notches 86, and thus rotate the knob 61 off a lastnumber of the combination subsequent to completing the combination andwithdrawing the fence 48 from the aligned slots 58.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, key operatedcam means are provided for selectively shifting the set of tumblers 29,30 and 31 axially along the tumbler post 24 and against the bias of thespring 33 to a noninterfering position wherein the fence 48 formed onthe pivoted latch bolt 37 may freely move into a space vacated by theshifted tumblers, thereby to enable release of the lock alternatively byoperating the permutation tumblers or by actuating the key operated cammechanism.

The key operated cam means generally comprise a cylindrical cam 92received within an axially extending, central throughbore 93 formed inthe sleeve portion 66 of the knob 61 for axial sliding movementtherewithin and a cam follower pin 94 operatively attached to a key plug96 for rotational movement therewith whenever an appropriatelyconfigured key as at 97 operates the key plug. The cylindrical cam 92has an axially elongated slot 98 cut into a sidewall thereof andreceiving an innermost end of a set screw (not shown) passing throughthe sleeve 66, thereby to restrain rotational movement of thecylindrical cam 92 within the throughbore 93 and only permit axiallydirected sliding movement of the cam within the throughbore. An end wall99 of the axially extending slot 98 forms a stop surface engageable withthe set screw for limiting axial extension of the cam 92 outwardly ofthe throughbore 93. An innermost end as at 101 of the cylindrical cam 92is squared off and abuts an outermost face surface 102 of the toptumbler 29, while an opposite end of the cylindrical cam has a camsurface 103 formed thereon for engagement with the cam follower pin 94.

The cam follower pin 94 is welded or otherwise secured diametricallyacross an end portion of a post 104 having an end opposite of thepinaffixed, as by welding, to the key plug 96 for rotation by the key97. The post 104 is loosely received within a throughbore 106 of thecylindrical cam 92 for enabling relative sliding and rotating movementtherebetween. Opposite end portions as at 107 of the cam follower pin 94engage the cam surface 103.

In order to translate rotational movement of the cam follower pin 94into axially directed movement of the cylindrical cam 92, and thus shiftthe tumblers 29, 30 and 31, the cam surface 103 has a pair of cammingsurfaces 109 extending cireumferentially and axially of the cylindricalcam 92 and each encompassing an angle of approximately The cammingsurfaces 109, 109 extend from a pair of diametrically opposed flats asat 108 to another pair of diametrically opposed flats as at 110, axiallyspaced from the first pair of flats a distance equal to the distance A,as illustrated in FIG. 6, which is the required distance for moving theouter face surface 102 of the top tumbler 29 from the forwardmostposition, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to a position inwardly of the endedge 54 of the latch bolt fence 48, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, asthe pin 94 is rotated via the key plug 96 by the key 97 through an angleof 90, the cylindrical cam 97 axially extends from the sleevecounterbore 93, thereby to axially shift the set of tumblers 29, 30 and31 against the bias of the spring 33 to the noninterfering position forallowing the latch bolt fence 48 to move into the space vacated by thetumblers, thereby to enable pivotal movement of the latch bolt towardthe unlocked position.

From the foregoing, it should be noted that the lock of the presentinvention may alternatively be released by properly dialing acombination to align tumbler slots for permitting a fence integrallyformed with a pivoted latch bolt to enter the aligned slots or byoperating a key plug with an appropriately configured key to actuate cammeans for axially shifting the tumblers to a noninterfering position,wherein the latch bolt fence may enter the space vacated by the tumblersand thereby permit release of the latch bolt.

Although those versed in the art may suggest various minormodifications, it should be understood that I wish to embody within thescope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications asreasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to theart.

I claim:

1. A lock comprising:

means forming a casing;

a tumbler post mounted within said casing;

a plurality of tumblers mounted on said tumbler post for rotationalmovement relative thereto and axial movement therealong and including atleast an upper tumbler and a lower tumbler;

means forming a latch bolt mounted on said casing for movementselectively between a locked position and an unlocked position;

restraining means normally preventing movement of said latch bolt to theunlocked position and including a fence confronting peripheral edgeportions of said tumblers and mounted for movement into radiallyextending slots formed in each of said tumblers whenever said slots arealigned to permit selective movement of said latch bolt to the unlockedposition; and

key operated cam means engaging one of said top and said bottom tumblersand axially shifting said plurality of tumblers along said tumbler postto a position clear of said fence for enabling said fence to enter aspace vacated by said tumblers to pennit selective movement of saidlatch bolt to the unlocked position.

2. A lock as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

biasing means engaging one of said tumblers and urging said plurality oftumblers toward said cam means and into an inter- 101033 osrq feringposition wherein saidfence closely confronts peripheral edges of thetumblers and is restrained against movement unless said radiallyextending slots in said tumblers are aligned.

' unlocked position.

5. A lock as defined in claim 4 and further characterized by: saidupsetter means comprising: I

an upsetter member mounted on said casing for pivotal movement; and J aportion of said upsetter member engaged by said latch bolt for pivotallymoving said member in response to selective movement of said latch bolttoward the unlocked position; biasing means urging saidpivoted upsettermember into engagement with said latch bolt; 7 means forming notchesalong peripheral edge portions of said tumblers; and means forming apawl on said upsetter member disposed and configured to move intoengagement with said tumbler notches whenever said upsetter memberpivotally moves-in response to movement of said latch bolt to theunlocked position, whereby pivotal movement of said upsetter memberunder the influence of said biasing means rotationally moves saidtumblers about said tumbler post to misalign said tumbler slots withsaid fence.

6. A lock as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: a knobrotatably mounted on said casing coaxially of said tumbler post; b meansforming a driving connection between said knob and the top one 'of saidplurality of tumblers; and means forming interengaging transfer pinscarried on said tumblers, whereby rotation of said knob rotates the topone of said tumblers into certain positions and in certain directionsfor aligning said tumbler-slots to enable movement of said fence intosaid aligned slots for permitting selective movement of said latch boltinto the unlocked position. v 7. A lock as defined in claim 1 andfurther characterized by: said cam means comprising:

a cylindrical cam member mounted coaxially of said tumbler post andhaving a circumferentially and axially extending camming surface formedthereon;

a cam follower engaging said camming surface;

one of said cam member and said cam follower restrained againstrotational movement and mounted for movement axially of said tumblerpost, and the other of said cam member and said cam follower restrainedagainst movement axially of. said tumbler post and mounted forrotational movement about a longitudinal axis of said tumbler post; saidaxially mounted member operatively engaging the top one of saidtumblers; and key operated means for rotating said rotationally mountedone of said cam member ands id cam followerv 8. A lock as define inclaim 1 and further characterized by:

a knob mounted on said casing for rotational movement coaxially of saidtumbler posts and having a throughbore fonned therein end extendingcoaxially of said tumbler post; e

means forming a driving connection between said knoband the top one ofsai i plurality of tumblers;

a key plug mounted in said throughbore coaxially of said tumbler postand having aportion tumable relative to said knobby a key;

a cylindrical ca'm member disposed within said throughbore, restrainedagainst rotational movement relat ve thereto and mounted :therewithinfor sliding movement axially of said tumbler post, one end portion ofsaid cylindrical ember abutting said top tumbler; and the other endportion of said cylindrical member having a circumferentiallyand axiallyextending camming surface formed thereon; and

means forming a cam follower engaging said camming surface andoperativelyattached to said key plug tumable portion for angularmovement therewith, whereby turning movement of said key plug tumableportion by a key axially moves said cylindrical member outwardly of saidknob for shifting said plurality'of tumblers axially along said tumblerpost to the noninterfering position wherein said fence may move into aspace vacated by said tumblers.

9. A lock as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by:

said knob having a dial plate attached thereto for corotation therewith;

an escutcheon plate surrounding said dial plate and overlappingperipheral edge portions thereof; and

means forming an arrow-shaped aperture through said escutcheon platedisposed to render colored portions of said overlapped peripheral edgeof said dial plate visible through said aperture, thereby forming areference marker for indicia carried on said dial plate.

10. In a permutation operated lock having a plurality of rotatablymounted tumblers, the improvement comprising:

means mounting the combination tumblers for axial move' ment selectivelybetween an interfering position wherein a latch bolt restraining fenceclosely confronts peripheral edges of the tumblers and a noninterferingposition wherein the tumblers are clear of the fence; and

key operated cam means engaging the plurality of combina tion tumblersand axially moving the same to a noninter, fer-ing position in responseto actuation thereof by a key.

1. A lock comprising: means forming a casing; a tumbler post mountedwithin said casing; a plurality of tumblers mounted on said tumbler postfor rotational movement relative thereto and axial movement therealongand including at least an upper tumbler and a lower tumbler; meansforming a latch bolt mounted on said casing for movement selectivelybetween a locked position and an unlocked position; restraining meansnormally preventing movement of said latch bolt to the unlocked positionand including a fence confronting peripheral edge portions of saidtumblers and mounted for movement into radially extending slots formedin each of said tumblers whenever said slots are aligned to permitselective movement of said latch bolt to the unlocked position; and keyoperated cam means engaging one of said top and said bottom tumblers andaxially shifting said plurality of tumblers along said tumbler post to aposition clear of said fence for enabling said fence to enter a spacevacated by said tumblers to permit selective movement of said latch boltto the unlocked position.
 2. A lock as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by: biasing means engaging one of said tumblers and urgingsaid plurality of tumblers toward said cam means and into an interferingposition wherein said fence closely confronts peripheral edges of thetumblers and is restrained against movement unless said radiallyextending slots in said tumblers are aligned.
 3. A lock as defined inclaim 1 and further characterized by: said latch bolt being mounted forpivotal movement selectively between the locked and unlocked positions;and said fence being integrally formed with said latch bolt andextending therefrom toward said tumbler post.
 4. A lock as defined inclaim 1 and further characterized by: upsetter means operating on saidtumblers for rotationally moving the same subsequent to said latch boltpivoting to the unlocked position.
 5. A lock as defined in claim 4 andfurther characterized by: said upsetter means comprising: an upsettermember mounted on said casing for pivotal movement; and a portion ofsaid upsetter member engaged by said latch bolt for pivotally movingsaid member in response to selective movement of said latch bolt towardthe unlocked position; biasing means urging said pivoted upsetter memberinto engagement with said latch bolt; means forming notches alongperipheral edge portions of said tumblers; and means forming a pawl onsaid upsetter member disposed and configured to move into engagementwith said tumbler notches whenever said upsetter member pivotally movesin response to movement of said latch bolt to the unlocked position,whereby pivotal movement of said upsetter member under the influence ofsaid biasing means rotationally moves said tumblers about said tumblerpost to misalign said tumbler slots with said fence.
 6. A lock asdefined in claim 1 and further characterized by: a knob rotatablymounted on said casing coaxially of said tumbler post; means forming adriving connection between said knob and the top one of said pluralityof tumblers; and means forming interengaging transfer pins carried onsaid tumblers, whereby rotation of said knob rotates the top one of saidtumblers into certain positions and in certain directions for aligningsaid tumbler slots to enable movement of said fence into said alignedslots for permitting selective movement of said latch bolt into theunlocked position.
 7. A lock as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by: said cam means comprising: a cylindrical cam membermounted coaxially of said tumbler post and having a circumferentiallyand axially extending camming surface formed thereon; a cam followerengaging said camming surface; one of said cam member and said camfollower Restrained against rotational movement and mounted for movementaxially of said tumbler post, and the other of said cam member and saidcam follower restrained against movement axially of said tumbler postand mounted for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis of saidtumbler post; said axially mounted member operatively engaging the topone of said tumblers; and key operated means for rotating saidrotationally mounted one of said cam member and said cam follower.
 8. Alock as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: a knob mountedon said casing for rotational movement coaxially of said tumbler postsand having a throughbore formed therein and extending coaxially of saidtumbler post; means forming a driving connection between said knob andthe top one of said plurality of tumblers; a key plug mounted in saidthroughbore coaxially of said tumbler post and having a portion turnablerelative to said knob by a key; a cylindrical cam member disposed withinsaid throughbore, restrained against rotational movement relativethereto and mounted therewithin for sliding movement axially of saidtumbler post, one end portion of said cylindrical member abutting saidtop tumbler, and the other end portion of said cylindrical member havinga circumferentially and axially extending camming surface formedthereon; and means forming a cam follower engaging said camming surfaceand operatively attached to said key plug turnable portion for angularmovement therewith, whereby turning movement of said key plug turnableportion by a key axially moves said cylindrical member outwardly of saidknob for shifting said plurality of tumblers axially along said tumblerpost to the noninterfering position wherein said fence may move into aspace vacated by said tumblers.
 9. A lock as defined in claim 6 andfurther characterized by: said knob having a dial plate attached theretofor corotation therewith; an escutcheon plate surrounding said dialplate and overlapping peripheral edge portions thereof; and meansforming an arrow-shaped aperture through said escutcheon plate disposedto render colored portions of said overlapped peripheral edge of saiddial plate visible through said aperture, thereby forming a referencemarker for indicia carried on said dial plate.
 10. In a permutationoperated lock having a plurality of rotatably mounted tumblers, theimprovement comprising: means mounting the combination tumblers foraxial movement selectively between an interfering position wherein alatch bolt restraining fence closely confronts peripheral edges of thetumblers and a noninterfering position wherein the tumblers are clear ofthe fence; and key operated cam means engaging the plurality ofcombination tumblers and axially moving the same to a noninterferingposition in response to actuation thereof by a key.